On Sunday Riga Ladies 2 had their first home game of the season. The girls were determined to capitalise on this and move on up the table. First up were Sussex Dolphins. Some awesome serving from Emma Young saw the girls take a 10-1 lead which forced Sussex into a time out. Riga pushed on and didn't lost rythm with some good passing from Amanda Dille, specialist back court player. Sussex Dolphins lifted their game but it was too little too late as Riga closed out the set confidently at 25-22.
In the second set the teams were neck and neck. Good distribution from Emma enabled Miriam and Jeanine to find holes in the Sussex defence. Riga called a time out at 19:20 down. However, this didn't disrupt Sussex and they stole the set 25-21.
The two Clare's (Francis and Walsh) joined the game for the third set. Clare struggled to help put up an attack due to the increasingly bad first pass. Sussex chipped away and soon took a lead. The team couldn't salvage the points they had lost through passing errors and Sussex took another set at 25-16.
So it was nothing to lose for the fourth. The pass improved and some good hitting from Jayne Warman and Lynette Purkiss saw Riga match Sussex point for point. Although Riga took a time out at 23:24 they couldn't quite capitalise on it, a service error from Riga and the set and the match slipped away 25-23. Riga's MVP was Jeanine Calder.
Determined to take a win from the weekend (and let's face it maintain that 50% win ratio) Riga set out confidently against Ashcombe (who were sporting a range of players from veterans to England Juniors!). The first set was a closely fought contest but Ashcombe just pipped Riga at the post to take the set 25-19. Some superb pick ups from Sharon Allen in the second set mixed with some good hitting from Clare Walsh and before they knew it the team had force Ashcombe into a time out at 20:10. The team didn't look back and took the set 25-14.
Riga started the third set equally confidently. Good blocking from Miriam and good back court play from Amanda Dille saw Riga dominate the game. A slight lack in concentration gave Ashcombe a slight come back but Riga held its form and Clare served out the set 25-21.
Determined to finish off the fourth set and hit the restaurant for Christmas dinner Riga started the set hesitantly but were soon in a comfortabel lead at 12-8. However, Riga fell intro the trap of believing they had done enough while Ashcombe stepped up to the mark and raised its game. Ashcombe were able to take the set 25-22 setting up a five set thriller. The first half of the fifth set could not have been closer, but Ashcombe changed ends at 8-6 up. Riga struggled to add points after the end cchange as Ashcombe went from strength to strength and finally took the set and the match 15-6. Riga's MVP was Netty Purkiss.
Riga take a well deserved Christmas break now and are not back in action til the new year!
